Ja’Kobe Tharp won the men’s 110m hurdles title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest

Ja’Kobe Tharp won the men’s 110m hurdles title at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, dipping at the finish line to clock a victorious time of 12.94 seconds into a -0.6 m/s headwind.

The high-octane global event took place from September 11–13, 2026, inside the Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, bringing together only the absolute elite tier of track and field athletes. Competing for a massive $150,000 first-place prize, the men’s sprint hurdles final on Friday, September 11, produced one of the most dramatic photo-finishes of the year. In a spectacular showcase of depth, American hurdlers swept the top four spots on the leaderboard, highlighted by Tharp’s clutch performance.

The final was filled with intense pressure and high drama before the race even successfully got underway. An incredibly tense atmosphere filled the stadium as the athletes settled into their blocks. On the first attempt, the gun fired but was immediately followed by a second recall blast. European champion Jason Joseph of Switzerland was caught jumping the gun and was subsequently disqualified for a false start under Technical Rule 16.8.

When the field reassembled at the starting line for the second time, the athletes were noticeably more cautious. Once the race cleanly started, another major contender met an unfortunate fate. American star Jamal Britt clipped a hurdle awkwardly, resulting in a lane violation infraction under Technical Rule 22.6.2 and an automatic disqualification. The early disruptions stripped the race down to a six-man battle, leaving no margin for error over the ten high barriers.

The remaining field blasted down the straightaway in what became an aggressive, physical race. As the hurdles flew by, Cordell Tinch launched into a spectacular drive, matching his steps perfectly to take a narrow lead over the final three barriers. As they crossed the final hurdle and lunged toward the tape, Tinch felt confident enough that he began celebrating the moment he crossed the finish line, believing he had secured the ultimate global title.

However, running to his side was the 20-year-old phenom Ja’Kobe Tharp. After barely sneaking into the final as the sixth-fastest qualifier from the semi-finals, Tharp executed a technically perfect finish. He unleashed a devastating late charge, executing the dip of his life right at the line.

The stadium waited in suspense as the official timing system analyzed the image. The slow-motion replay and official photo finish confirmed that Tharp’s lower torso had crossed just a fraction of a second ahead of his compatriot. Tharp took the gold in 12.94 seconds, leaving Tinch with a heartbreaking but brilliant silver medal time of 12.95 seconds—a new season’s best.

Behind the leading duo, the battle for the final spot on the podium was equally intense. Bradley Franklin, who had set the track on fire during the preliminary rounds by officially entering the sub-13-second club, delivered another world-class performance. Franklin crossed the finish line in 13.01 seconds to capture the bronze medal and a $40,000 prize payout. Trey Cunningham completed the absolute dominance of Team USA by finishing in fourth place with a time of 13.08 seconds. Japan’s Tatsuki Abe and Rachid Muratake rounded out the remaining finishers in fifth and sixth.

Final Standings in men’s 110m hurdles at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship:
1. Ja’Kobe Tharp (USA) – 12.94 sec
2. Cordell Tinch (USA) – 12.95 sec (SB)
3. Bradley Franklin (USA) – 13.01 sec
4. Trey Cunningham (USA) – 13.08 sec
5. Tatsuki Abe (JPN) – 13.24 sec
6. Rachid Muratake (JPN) – 13.71 sec
DQ. Jason Joseph (SUI) — False Start (TR 16.8)
DQ. Jamal Britt (USA) — Lane Infraction (TR 22.6.2)

With this dramatic victory, Ja’Kobe Tharp rounded out an extraordinarily long and legendary breakout year. Having started his season all the way back on January 30 during the collegiate indoor circuit, the young American athlete managed to maintain an elite level of physical peak for nearly eight months. Over the course of 2026, Tharp collected an NCAA title, captured a Diamond League trophy, and established himself as the undisputed face of the event. Winning the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship title solidified his status as a dominant global force heading into the next Olympic cycle.